外国語をマスターする上で、必ずついてまわるモノのひとつに、数字があります。
数の数え方、読み方、言い方は、日常生活において、切っても切れないものです。さいわい、英語に関しては、我々日本人は、普段からわりと良くなじんでいるので、さほど苦労はしないのでは、と思います。
ただ、数といっても、１〜１０までではありません。とっさに「５０００万」とか、「１０億」といわれると、すぐにはでてこない、という人もいるのではないでしょうか。
また、日本人になじみのないものとして、温度、サイズ、など、普段つかっていない単位があります。
そこで今回は、英語の数にまつわるものをまとめてみました。
まずは、数字ですが、１〜１００までは問題ないと思います。ちなみに「１００」は、one hundredですね。ちなみに、勘違いしやすいのですが、"hundred"は、数詞または数量形容詞を伴うときは"-s"をつけないので、２００は、"two hundred"、３００は"three hundred"となります。
これ以降は、","（カンマ）で区切って読んでいくので、カンマごとに表現が変わっていきます。
まず、最初のカンマは"1,000"から出てくるので、ここからは、"thousand"を使います。この"thousand"も"hundred"同様、"-s"はつけません。
その次に表現が変わるのは・・・、
そう、"1,000,000"、「百万」ですね。ここでは、"million"を使います。じゃあ、「千」と「百万」のあいだはどうするのか、というと、「千」がいくつ、というふうに表します。
例えば、「１０万」なら、「千」が「百個」で"one hundred thousand"、となります。
では、「５０００万」は？
・
・
・
・
・
そうです、
"fifty million"
つまり、「百万」が「５０個」ですね。
「千」、「百万」ときて、次は、というと、"1,000,000,000"、つまり「１０億」です。これは、"billion"を使います。
ちなみに、いまでは英米両方で、"billion"を「１０億」という意味で使うのが一般的ですが、１９５０年代頃までは、英国では、"billion"を「１兆」の意味で使っていました。
この辺までくると、私たちの日常ではほとんど使わない単位ですが、ニュースや、ビジネスなどでは、接する機会もあるので、覚えておいて損はないと思います。
さらに上にいくと、"1,000,000,000,000"、すなわち「１兆」です。ここまでくると数字で表すのもイヤになってきますが（笑）、「１兆」は"trillion"を使います。
これらの数字は、すぐにイメージできるように、普段から目にした数字を英語に直してみる習慣をつけると、良いと思います。例えば、新聞を読んだとき、チラシを見たとき、などに、目にした数字を、頭の中で、あるいは口に出して、英語にしてみるのも、良い方法ではないか、と思います。
それから、いま見たのは、"cardinal nembers"、つまり「基数」ですが、"ordinal numbers"「序数」、つまり「順序を表す数字」は、多少違います。
では、「一番目」「二番目」「三番目」は、英語でなんと言うでしょうか？
・
・
・
・
・
・
正解は、
"first" "second" "third"
です。この辺も大丈夫だと思いますが、念のため。ちなみに「四番目」以降は、「基数」に"-th"をつけていきますが、いくつか変則的な変化をするものもあるので、気をつけましょう。
たとえば、「５番目」は、
"fifth"
「８番目」は、
"eighth"
となります。
続いて、「気温」ですが、これは、そもそも単位が違うので、なじみのない我々日本人にとっては、慣れるまではやっかいなものです。
日本では「摂氏」"centigrade"を使いますが、欧米では「華氏」"Fahrenheit"が良く用いられます。（今では「摂氏」もよく使われるようになってきたのが、うれしいところですが。）
私の家にある温度計は、「摂氏」、「華氏」両方が表示されるタイプなのですが、それを見ると、だいたい、「摂氏０度」が「華氏３０度程度」、「摂氏１０度」が「華氏５０度程度」、「摂氏２０度」が「華氏７０度弱程度」、「摂氏３０度」が「華氏９０度弱程度」ですので、私は、「３・５・７・９」と覚えています。あくまで目安ですが。
ちなみに気温を英語でいうときは、数字のあとに、"degrees centigrade"や、"degrees Fahrenheit"をつけます。つまり、「摂氏１０度」なら、"10 degrees centigrade"、「華氏」であらわすなら、"50 degreeds Fahrenheit"となるわけです。
数の数え方、読み方、言い方は、日常生活において、切っても切れないものです。さいわい、英語に関しては、我々日本人は、普段からわりと良くなじんでいるので、さほど苦労はしないのでは、と思います。
ただ、数といっても、１〜１０までではありません。とっさに「５０００万」とか、「１０億」といわれると、すぐにはでてこない、という人もいるのではないでしょうか。
また、日本人になじみのないものとして、温度、サイズ、など、普段つかっていない単位があります。
そこで今回は、英語の数にまつわるものをまとめてみました。
まずは、数字ですが、１〜１００までは問題ないと思います。ちなみに「１００」は、one hundredですね。ちなみに、勘違いしやすいのですが、"hundred"は、数詞または数量形容詞を伴うときは"-s"をつけないので、２００は、"two hundred"、３００は"three hundred"となります。
これ以降は、","（カンマ）で区切って読んでいくので、カンマごとに表現が変わっていきます。
まず、最初のカンマは"1,000"から出てくるので、ここからは、"thousand"を使います。この"thousand"も"hundred"同様、"-s"はつけません。
その次に表現が変わるのは・・・、
そう、"1,000,000"、「百万」ですね。ここでは、"million"を使います。じゃあ、「千」と「百万」のあいだはどうするのか、というと、「千」がいくつ、というふうに表します。
例えば、「１０万」なら、「千」が「百個」で"one hundred thousand"、となります。
では、「５０００万」は？
・
・
・
・
・
そうです、
"fifty million"
つまり、「百万」が「５０個」ですね。
「千」、「百万」ときて、次は、というと、"1,000,000,000"、つまり「１０億」です。これは、"billion"を使います。
ちなみに、いまでは英米両方で、"billion"を「１０億」という意味で使うのが一般的ですが、１９５０年代頃までは、英国では、"billion"を「１兆」の意味で使っていました。
この辺までくると、私たちの日常ではほとんど使わない単位ですが、ニュースや、ビジネスなどでは、接する機会もあるので、覚えておいて損はないと思います。
さらに上にいくと、"1,000,000,000,000"、すなわち「１兆」です。ここまでくると数字で表すのもイヤになってきますが（笑）、「１兆」は"trillion"を使います。
これらの数字は、すぐにイメージできるように、普段から目にした数字を英語に直してみる習慣をつけると、良いと思います。例えば、新聞を読んだとき、チラシを見たとき、などに、目にした数字を、頭の中で、あるいは口に出して、英語にしてみるのも、良い方法ではないか、と思います。
それから、いま見たのは、"cardinal nembers"、つまり「基数」ですが、"ordinal numbers"「序数」、つまり「順序を表す数字」は、多少違います。
では、「一番目」「二番目」「三番目」は、英語でなんと言うでしょうか？
・
・
・
・
・
・
正解は、
"first" "second" "third"
です。この辺も大丈夫だと思いますが、念のため。ちなみに「四番目」以降は、「基数」に"-th"をつけていきますが、いくつか変則的な変化をするものもあるので、気をつけましょう。
たとえば、「５番目」は、
"fifth"
「８番目」は、
"eighth"
となります。
続いて、「気温」ですが、これは、そもそも単位が違うので、なじみのない我々日本人にとっては、慣れるまではやっかいなものです。
日本では「摂氏」"centigrade"を使いますが、欧米では「華氏」"Fahrenheit"が良く用いられます。（今では「摂氏」もよく使われるようになってきたのが、うれしいところですが。）
私の家にある温度計は、「摂氏」、「華氏」両方が表示されるタイプなのですが、それを見ると、だいたい、「摂氏０度」が「華氏３０度程度」、「摂氏１０度」が「華氏５０度程度」、「摂氏２０度」が「華氏７０度弱程度」、「摂氏３０度」が「華氏９０度弱程度」ですので、私は、「３・５・７・９」と覚えています。あくまで目安ですが。
ちなみに気温を英語でいうときは、数字のあとに、"degrees centigrade"や、"degrees Fahrenheit"をつけます。つまり、「摂氏１０度」なら、"10 degrees centigrade"、「華氏」であらわすなら、"50 degreeds Fahrenheit"となるわけです。
今回は、クイズです。
次の英単語の意味、わかりますか？割とよく使う単語なので、知っているかたも多いかもしれませんね。
また、以前にメルマガでも取り上げたので、メルマガで既にご覧になった方は、復習のつもりでやってみましょう。
Q1. "plastic"の意味は？
Q2. "Take my tip."を日本語に訳すと？
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・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
A1.「クレジットカード」。 もちろん、「プラスティック製の」や、「プラスティック製品」と言う意味もありますが、「クレジットカード」の意味でもよく使われるので、覚えておくと便利です。単語の意味は一つではなく、複数あるのが普通なので、文脈に応じて訳せるように頑張りましょう。
A2. "tip"には、「チップ（心づけ・祝儀）」という意味がよく知られていますが、他にも、「助言、忠告」という意味もあります。
"Take my tip."は、「私の忠告どおりにしなさい。」という意味です。他にも"tip"には、「先端」という意味もあります。
例えば、
"the tips of one's fingers" で「指先」というように使います。
他にもいくつも意味があるので、興味のあるかたは、ぜひ辞書で調べてみてください。まめに辞書をひくのも、外国語をマスターする"a tip"（秘訣）ですよ☆
次の英単語の意味、わかりますか？割とよく使う単語なので、知っているかたも多いかもしれませんね。
また、以前にメルマガでも取り上げたので、メルマガで既にご覧になった方は、復習のつもりでやってみましょう。
Q1. "plastic"の意味は？
Q2. "Take my tip."を日本語に訳すと？
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
・
A1.「クレジットカード」。 もちろん、「プラスティック製の」や、「プラスティック製品」と言う意味もありますが、「クレジットカード」の意味でもよく使われるので、覚えておくと便利です。単語の意味は一つではなく、複数あるのが普通なので、文脈に応じて訳せるように頑張りましょう。
A2. "tip"には、「チップ（心づけ・祝儀）」という意味がよく知られていますが、他にも、「助言、忠告」という意味もあります。
"Take my tip."は、「私の忠告どおりにしなさい。」という意味です。他にも"tip"には、「先端」という意味もあります。
例えば、
"the tips of one's fingers" で「指先」というように使います。
他にもいくつも意味があるので、興味のあるかたは、ぜひ辞書で調べてみてください。まめに辞書をひくのも、外国語をマスターする"a tip"（秘訣）ですよ☆
今回のEnglish Newsは前回の続きです。Tip5からスタートです。
Tip 5: Automatically optimize your hard drive.
One of the keys to system performance is an optimized hard drive. Typically, you optimize your hard drive using Windows' Defrag utility.But there's a great registry hack that will force Win XP to automatically optimize the location of files when your PC is idle. Here's how it works.
1. Open RegEdit and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OptimalLayout
2. Find the string called EnableAutoLayout, and change its data value to 1. (If this string doesn't exist, create it and set the value to 1.)
3. Exit RegEdit and reboot your PC. Done!
Tip 4: Set a custom resolution.
Notice a trend in the second half of this story? If you answered, "They're all registry hacks," you are correct. Windows XP's registry loads an amazing amount of flexibility and customization in a fairly low-risk package.
Tip number 4 on our list is another one of our favorite registry hacks. Windows XP allows you to specify a large number of set screen resolutions based on what types of images your display can accept. However, in a few rare instances, you may want to specify a non-standard resolution for a clearer or more accurate picture. This tip allows you to do just that. It's one of those tips that doesn't seem all that handy - until you desperately need it. Plus, it's just plain cool. If you have a wonky projector or TV screen you want to use with a laptop or PC, you might want to give this a try.
Here's how it works:
1. Open RegEdit and browse to HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\System
\CurrentControlSet\Control\VIDEO\
{the address of your primary video card...it often begins with "23A77BF7"}\0000\
2. The Default Settings.XResolution data value is the horizontal resolution, and the Default Settings.YResolution data value is the vertical. Double-click the Default Settings.XResolution data entry, select the Decimal radio button, and in the Value Data field, enter your desired horizontal resolution. Then do the same with Default Settings.YResolution to change the vertical resolution.
3. Exit RegEdit and reboot your PC.
If you're scared of tweaking your registry on this one, a handy app called PowerStrip ($29.95, available for a free try-before-you-buy download), allows you similar resolution-changing functionality.
Tip 3: Stay on top of registry changes.
Given the power and flexibility of Windows XP's registry (and the large number of registry hacks in this Top 10), it's no surprise that the number 3 XP tip involves keeping track of any and all changes made to your registry.
But given the prevalence of spyware, rootkits, and other malware these days, knowing what you've done to your registry is a secondary concern to knowing what other applications are doing to it.
For peace of mind - and occasionally, for curiosity's sake - we consider SysInternal's Regmon an essential piece of our OS. It's a freeware application that allows you to browse through all the keys in the registry, filtering in a variety of ways to pinpoint specific registry changes.
For example, you can quickly filter for certain applications. If you're having trouble with Windows Media Player, you click on the Options menu, then Filter. At the menu, type wmplayer into the Include field. When you see the resulting list, you can double-click any entry to open up its registry value.
Because you can search and filter, Regmon is also an excellent method for tracking down hard-to-find registry items.
Tip 2: Recover lost data.
Everyone has accidentally deleted files from their hard drive, and very few feelings are as low as the moment right after you nuke 300 irreplaceable photographs of your kids/dogs/life. Actually, one feeling is worse than that: accidentally quick-formatting your entire drive.
Even if you regularly back up your drives, mistakes happen. That's why this tip is paramount. It's also really simple. There's an excellent downloadable data recovery app for XP called Zero Assumption Recovery that can help. Don't waste another minute - download and install it now.
When you run into trouble, here's what to do:
1. The moment you delete your data, stop using your hard drive. Don't save or install any new applications - they'll be written over your recently departed data.
2. Run Zero Assumption Recovery. You already had it installed, right?
3. Select the hard drive you want to scan. Wait for the scan to finish. (This can take between one and two hours -- part of Zero Assumption Recovery's effectiveness is its thoroughness.)
4. With any luck, you'll see a list of your missing folders and files.The freeware version of Zero Assumption Recovery allows you to recover up to four folders per scan. If you pay $100 for the full version, you get full recovery.
Note: You can also use Zero Assumption Recovery to recover deleted photos from your camera's memory card.
Tip 1: Automatically log when and why shutdowns have occurred.
Love it or hate it, Windows XP is undeniably more stable than its predecessors. But it still crashes, and it still has occasional trouble shutting down. This registry hack logs all shutdown errors, telling you when, where, and why strange and annoying things have happened.
Some folks have the luxury of packing their buggy PC off to a help desk. But if you like to get your hands dirty, consider this essential tweakage.
Here's how to set up logging for unexpected system shutdowns:
1. Open RegEdit and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
2. Set the ShutDownReasonUI data value to 1. (If this string doesn't exist, create it and set the value to 1.)
3. Exit RegEdit and reboot your PC.
To examine the log you've created, open up the Event Viewer, which you'll find by selecting Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer. Click on the System subheading and you'll see a massive list of system events. Errors will be marked with a red X or a yellow exclamation mark. Double-click on the error and you'll see details that may help you unravel the mystery.
※optimize「最適化する」 resolution「解像度」
wonky「不安定な」 horizontal「水平の」
vertical「垂直の」 tweak「つまむ、ひねる」
prevalence「普及」 irreplaceable「かけがえのない」
paramount「最高の」 log「記録する」
undeniably「紛れも無く」 buggy「バグだらけの」
unravel「解きほぐす」
Tip 5: Automatically optimize your hard drive.
One of the keys to system performance is an optimized hard drive. Typically, you optimize your hard drive using Windows' Defrag utility.But there's a great registry hack that will force Win XP to automatically optimize the location of files when your PC is idle. Here's how it works.
1. Open RegEdit and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\OptimalLayout
2. Find the string called EnableAutoLayout, and change its data value to 1. (If this string doesn't exist, create it and set the value to 1.)
3. Exit RegEdit and reboot your PC. Done!
Tip 4: Set a custom resolution.
Notice a trend in the second half of this story? If you answered, "They're all registry hacks," you are correct. Windows XP's registry loads an amazing amount of flexibility and customization in a fairly low-risk package.
Tip number 4 on our list is another one of our favorite registry hacks. Windows XP allows you to specify a large number of set screen resolutions based on what types of images your display can accept. However, in a few rare instances, you may want to specify a non-standard resolution for a clearer or more accurate picture. This tip allows you to do just that. It's one of those tips that doesn't seem all that handy - until you desperately need it. Plus, it's just plain cool. If you have a wonky projector or TV screen you want to use with a laptop or PC, you might want to give this a try.
Here's how it works:
1. Open RegEdit and browse to HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG\System
\CurrentControlSet\Control\VIDEO\
{the address of your primary video card...it often begins with "23A77BF7"}\0000\
2. The Default Settings.XResolution data value is the horizontal resolution, and the Default Settings.YResolution data value is the vertical. Double-click the Default Settings.XResolution data entry, select the Decimal radio button, and in the Value Data field, enter your desired horizontal resolution. Then do the same with Default Settings.YResolution to change the vertical resolution.
3. Exit RegEdit and reboot your PC.
If you're scared of tweaking your registry on this one, a handy app called PowerStrip ($29.95, available for a free try-before-you-buy download), allows you similar resolution-changing functionality.
Tip 3: Stay on top of registry changes.
Given the power and flexibility of Windows XP's registry (and the large number of registry hacks in this Top 10), it's no surprise that the number 3 XP tip involves keeping track of any and all changes made to your registry.
But given the prevalence of spyware, rootkits, and other malware these days, knowing what you've done to your registry is a secondary concern to knowing what other applications are doing to it.
For peace of mind - and occasionally, for curiosity's sake - we consider SysInternal's Regmon an essential piece of our OS. It's a freeware application that allows you to browse through all the keys in the registry, filtering in a variety of ways to pinpoint specific registry changes.
For example, you can quickly filter for certain applications. If you're having trouble with Windows Media Player, you click on the Options menu, then Filter. At the menu, type wmplayer into the Include field. When you see the resulting list, you can double-click any entry to open up its registry value.
Because you can search and filter, Regmon is also an excellent method for tracking down hard-to-find registry items.
Tip 2: Recover lost data.
Everyone has accidentally deleted files from their hard drive, and very few feelings are as low as the moment right after you nuke 300 irreplaceable photographs of your kids/dogs/life. Actually, one feeling is worse than that: accidentally quick-formatting your entire drive.
Even if you regularly back up your drives, mistakes happen. That's why this tip is paramount. It's also really simple. There's an excellent downloadable data recovery app for XP called Zero Assumption Recovery that can help. Don't waste another minute - download and install it now.
When you run into trouble, here's what to do:
1. The moment you delete your data, stop using your hard drive. Don't save or install any new applications - they'll be written over your recently departed data.
2. Run Zero Assumption Recovery. You already had it installed, right?
3. Select the hard drive you want to scan. Wait for the scan to finish. (This can take between one and two hours -- part of Zero Assumption Recovery's effectiveness is its thoroughness.)
4. With any luck, you'll see a list of your missing folders and files.The freeware version of Zero Assumption Recovery allows you to recover up to four folders per scan. If you pay $100 for the full version, you get full recovery.
Note: You can also use Zero Assumption Recovery to recover deleted photos from your camera's memory card.
Tip 1: Automatically log when and why shutdowns have occurred.
Love it or hate it, Windows XP is undeniably more stable than its predecessors. But it still crashes, and it still has occasional trouble shutting down. This registry hack logs all shutdown errors, telling you when, where, and why strange and annoying things have happened.
Some folks have the luxury of packing their buggy PC off to a help desk. But if you like to get your hands dirty, consider this essential tweakage.
Here's how to set up logging for unexpected system shutdowns:
1. Open RegEdit and browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Reliability
2. Set the ShutDownReasonUI data value to 1. (If this string doesn't exist, create it and set the value to 1.)
3. Exit RegEdit and reboot your PC.
To examine the log you've created, open up the Event Viewer, which you'll find by selecting Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer. Click on the System subheading and you'll see a massive list of system events. Errors will be marked with a red X or a yellow exclamation mark. Double-click on the error and you'll see details that may help you unravel the mystery.
※optimize「最適化する」 resolution「解像度」
wonky「不安定な」 horizontal「水平の」
vertical「垂直の」 tweak「つまむ、ひねる」
prevalence「普及」 irreplaceable「かけがえのない」
paramount「最高の」 log「記録する」
undeniably「紛れも無く」 buggy「バグだらけの」
unravel「解きほぐす」
今回の英語記事は、メルマガでもご紹介した、「WindowsXPを使いやすくする１０の秘訣」です。
「WindowsXP」ユーザー以外のかたには役に立たない秘訣かもしれませんが、英語、しかもコンピューター用語を覚えるには良い教材かと思いますので、ぜひ読んでみて下さい。
Top 10 Windows XP Tips Of All Time
Despite all the hoopla about the introduction of Windows Vista, the truth of the matter is that the new OS isn't due for at least another seven to nine months - and it will probably be even longer before most of us start adopting it. Meanwhile, we've still got to deal with Win XP.
In order to make the waiting easier, we've decided to assemble the greatest tips in the history of Windows XP. Here you'll find the tips that give you the most bang for your buck; that are most useful in terms of security, functionality, and PC performance; and that are just plain cool.
One final thought: As you parse our Top 10, consider the following: With any luck, this time next year we'll all be reading Windows Vista tips stories.
And now let's start the countdown.
Tip 10: Halt background services to improve performance.
This tip is one of our favorites because it always works. Running in the background of Windows are scores of services, small processes used by Windows and many Windows applications. The thing is, you don't need all these services - especially for applications you never use - and many of them actually slow your PC down.
Win XP power users have long known that you can easily eke a little extra performance out of your PC by disabling services that are completely unnecessary or that don't need to be running all the time. Here's how it works.
1. Click Start > Run, type services.msc and click OK. This will bring up the Services management console. Click on the Extended tab at the bottom of this window; each background service running on your PC is listed here. Windows includes a fairly detailed description of each service; simply drag the Description column wider to read more of each description, or click on a service to see its full description in the left pane.
2. Double-click a service to bring up a window with several options. In the Startup Type area, you can set the service to run automatically in the background at all times so it's ready whenever it's needed, or you can tell it to run manually, which means you'll have to go into this Services management console and re-enable it if an application needs it.
You can also completely disable the service. In general, you want to disable services tied to applications and/or features you don't use or rarely use. You can find a great list of appropriate services to disable at the Elder Geek's Services Guide For Windows XP.
If you're logged onto the computer as the administrator, you can also pause the service (click the Pause button in the Service Status area just below the Startup Type area), then see how the computer behaves. Danger signs include crashes or other erratic behaviors in your applications, such as running slowly or getting stuck on a query prompt. Click Resume to start up the service again.
Tip 9: Increase available disk space by scaling back System Restore.
It's not perfect, but Windows System Restore is a useful first step in recovering your PC or drive from a major system error. However, it can consume more than 10 percent of your total hard drive space.
If you find yourself desperate for an extra few gigabytes - particularly on secondary storage drives - there's an easy way to reclaim data space by simply limiting the number of System Restore points Windows XP establishes. This one's a snap and there's no tangible increase of risk, which is why we love it.
1. Right-click on My Computer and select Properties > System Restore.
2. If you have just one hard drive, skip to step 3. Otherwise, select the drive on which you want to gain storage space and click the Settings button.
3. Adjust the slider to the left to use less disk space, and Win XP will reduce the number of System Restore points by the appropriate amount.
Tip 8: Scrub your hard drive clean.
Windows Support Tools, provided free by Microsoft, are a suite of some 20+ separate applications that are extremely handy for a number of uses. Ordinary PC users probably won't use many of these apps - they're mostly used by IT pros to troubleshoot and analyze Windows XP. But even if you're not an expert, don't be afraid of using the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility, which will help you remove all leftover files from a failed uninstall of a Windows Installer application.
Download Windows Support Tools from Microsoft's Download Center. (If you're curious about the other apps in the suite, check out the help file included in the Windows Support Tools Program group.)
To run the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility, go to the command prompt (select Start > Run) and type msicuu.exe. You'll see a list of all applications with uninstall data. Select the ones you want to get rid of and click the Remove button. Obviously, you want to use caution here - don't clear the install data for an application unless you're absolutely sure you won't ever need it.
Tip 7: Run two displays on the same PC.
This tip is for the worker bee. Adding a second display to your PC won't quite double your productivity, but it will make your computing life easier. Walk around a cube farm these days, and you'll likely see at least a few power users doubling up.
Thankfully, Windows XP makes it extremely easy.
1. Plug the second display into your computer. (Many video cards today have a second Video Out port; if not, you'll have to install a second video card.)
2. Right-click on your desktop and click Properties to bring up the Display Properties window. Click on the Settings tab.
3. See the grayed-out box to the right of the black box? That's your second monitor. Click on it and then click the check box next to "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" to enable it. From here you can adjust the resolution of the secondary display. The goal here is to have a desktop that spans both of your displays, so if your second screen is physically located to the left of your primary one, drag and drop the #2 monitor to the left of the #1 display.
Tip 6: Force unresponsive applications to close at shutdown.
When it comes to balky PCs, few things annoy us more than the moment when we try to shut down Windows and it tells us it can't because some crashed application isn't responding, and that we have to do it ourselves by clicking the End Now button.
This registry hack changes that. Here's how it works.
1. Launch RegEdit (select Start > Run, type regedit and click OK) and browse to HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
2. Find the string called AutoEndTasks. Right-click it, select Modify from the pop-up menu, and change the data value from 0 to 1. (If you can't find this string, create it by selecting Edit > New > String Value and set the data value to 1.)
3. Close RegEdit and reboot.
※hoopla「大騒ぎ」 eke「不足を補う」
disable「無効にする」 storage「保管、記憶装置」
tangible「感知できる」 leftover「残り物の、食べ残しの」
balky「言うことをきかない」
今回は、Tip10からTip6までご紹介しました。もしあなたがWinXPユーザーなら、ぜひ実際に操作をしながら読んで見る事をおすすめします。
実際に設定を変更する必要はありませんが、途中まででもやってみることで、内容がより分かりやすくなると思います。
ちなみに、"Run"とはWinXPで言うところの、「ファイル名を指定して実行」に当たります。
次回はTip5からTip1をご紹介したいと思います。
それから、メルマガをご覧になっていない方は、ぜひ一度ご覧になってください。今回は特に、お知らせがあるので、メルマガ第11号の編集後記だけでも見てくださいね。
メルマガはこちら
「WindowsXP」ユーザー以外のかたには役に立たない秘訣かもしれませんが、英語、しかもコンピューター用語を覚えるには良い教材かと思いますので、ぜひ読んでみて下さい。
Top 10 Windows XP Tips Of All Time
Despite all the hoopla about the introduction of Windows Vista, the truth of the matter is that the new OS isn't due for at least another seven to nine months - and it will probably be even longer before most of us start adopting it. Meanwhile, we've still got to deal with Win XP.
In order to make the waiting easier, we've decided to assemble the greatest tips in the history of Windows XP. Here you'll find the tips that give you the most bang for your buck; that are most useful in terms of security, functionality, and PC performance; and that are just plain cool.
One final thought: As you parse our Top 10, consider the following: With any luck, this time next year we'll all be reading Windows Vista tips stories.
And now let's start the countdown.
Tip 10: Halt background services to improve performance.
This tip is one of our favorites because it always works. Running in the background of Windows are scores of services, small processes used by Windows and many Windows applications. The thing is, you don't need all these services - especially for applications you never use - and many of them actually slow your PC down.
Win XP power users have long known that you can easily eke a little extra performance out of your PC by disabling services that are completely unnecessary or that don't need to be running all the time. Here's how it works.
1. Click Start > Run, type services.msc and click OK. This will bring up the Services management console. Click on the Extended tab at the bottom of this window; each background service running on your PC is listed here. Windows includes a fairly detailed description of each service; simply drag the Description column wider to read more of each description, or click on a service to see its full description in the left pane.
2. Double-click a service to bring up a window with several options. In the Startup Type area, you can set the service to run automatically in the background at all times so it's ready whenever it's needed, or you can tell it to run manually, which means you'll have to go into this Services management console and re-enable it if an application needs it.
You can also completely disable the service. In general, you want to disable services tied to applications and/or features you don't use or rarely use. You can find a great list of appropriate services to disable at the Elder Geek's Services Guide For Windows XP.
If you're logged onto the computer as the administrator, you can also pause the service (click the Pause button in the Service Status area just below the Startup Type area), then see how the computer behaves. Danger signs include crashes or other erratic behaviors in your applications, such as running slowly or getting stuck on a query prompt. Click Resume to start up the service again.
Tip 9: Increase available disk space by scaling back System Restore.
It's not perfect, but Windows System Restore is a useful first step in recovering your PC or drive from a major system error. However, it can consume more than 10 percent of your total hard drive space.
If you find yourself desperate for an extra few gigabytes - particularly on secondary storage drives - there's an easy way to reclaim data space by simply limiting the number of System Restore points Windows XP establishes. This one's a snap and there's no tangible increase of risk, which is why we love it.
1. Right-click on My Computer and select Properties > System Restore.
2. If you have just one hard drive, skip to step 3. Otherwise, select the drive on which you want to gain storage space and click the Settings button.
3. Adjust the slider to the left to use less disk space, and Win XP will reduce the number of System Restore points by the appropriate amount.
Tip 8: Scrub your hard drive clean.
Windows Support Tools, provided free by Microsoft, are a suite of some 20+ separate applications that are extremely handy for a number of uses. Ordinary PC users probably won't use many of these apps - they're mostly used by IT pros to troubleshoot and analyze Windows XP. But even if you're not an expert, don't be afraid of using the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility, which will help you remove all leftover files from a failed uninstall of a Windows Installer application.
Download Windows Support Tools from Microsoft's Download Center. (If you're curious about the other apps in the suite, check out the help file included in the Windows Support Tools Program group.)
To run the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility, go to the command prompt (select Start > Run) and type msicuu.exe. You'll see a list of all applications with uninstall data. Select the ones you want to get rid of and click the Remove button. Obviously, you want to use caution here - don't clear the install data for an application unless you're absolutely sure you won't ever need it.
Tip 7: Run two displays on the same PC.
This tip is for the worker bee. Adding a second display to your PC won't quite double your productivity, but it will make your computing life easier. Walk around a cube farm these days, and you'll likely see at least a few power users doubling up.
Thankfully, Windows XP makes it extremely easy.
1. Plug the second display into your computer. (Many video cards today have a second Video Out port; if not, you'll have to install a second video card.)
2. Right-click on your desktop and click Properties to bring up the Display Properties window. Click on the Settings tab.
3. See the grayed-out box to the right of the black box? That's your second monitor. Click on it and then click the check box next to "Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor" to enable it. From here you can adjust the resolution of the secondary display. The goal here is to have a desktop that spans both of your displays, so if your second screen is physically located to the left of your primary one, drag and drop the #2 monitor to the left of the #1 display.
Tip 6: Force unresponsive applications to close at shutdown.
When it comes to balky PCs, few things annoy us more than the moment when we try to shut down Windows and it tells us it can't because some crashed application isn't responding, and that we have to do it ourselves by clicking the End Now button.
This registry hack changes that. Here's how it works.
1. Launch RegEdit (select Start > Run, type regedit and click OK) and browse to HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop
2. Find the string called AutoEndTasks. Right-click it, select Modify from the pop-up menu, and change the data value from 0 to 1. (If you can't find this string, create it by selecting Edit > New > String Value and set the data value to 1.)
3. Close RegEdit and reboot.
※hoopla「大騒ぎ」 eke「不足を補う」
disable「無効にする」 storage「保管、記憶装置」
tangible「感知できる」 leftover「残り物の、食べ残しの」
balky「言うことをきかない」
今回は、Tip10からTip6までご紹介しました。もしあなたがWinXPユーザーなら、ぜひ実際に操作をしながら読んで見る事をおすすめします。
実際に設定を変更する必要はありませんが、途中まででもやってみることで、内容がより分かりやすくなると思います。
ちなみに、"Run"とはWinXPで言うところの、「ファイル名を指定して実行」に当たります。
次回はTip5からTip1をご紹介したいと思います。
それから、メルマガをご覧になっていない方は、ぜひ一度ご覧になってください。今回は特に、お知らせがあるので、メルマガ第11号の編集後記だけでも見てくださいね。
メルマガはこちら
久しぶりのEnglish Newsです。
今回は、医学用語などが出てきますが、文章自体はさほど難しくないと思いますので、興味のあるかたは読んでみて下さい。
テーマは「骨」に関するもので、「FOP」と呼ばれる難病の原因とされる遺伝子を発見したという内容から始まります。
この発見によって、難病の治療法が確立できるだけでなく、骨に関する様々な病気や怪我、例えば「骨粗しょう症」や「骨の再生医療」といった分野にも応用できる可能性がある、という、医学上非常に重要な発見のようです。
以下が記事の全文です。
（記事はYahoo!USAより引用させて頂きました）
Scientists Solve Bone Disease Mystery
NEW YORK - Scientists have discovered a mutant gene that triggers the body to form a second, renegade skeleton, solving the mystery of a rare disease called FOP that imprisons children in bone for life.
The finding, reported Sunday, may one day lead to development of a drug, not only to treat the rare bone disorder, but more common bone buildup related to head and spine trauma, and even sports injuries, the researchers said.
"We've reached the summit," said Dr. Frederick Kaplan, an orthopedist whose team at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine pinpointed the cause of FOP, or fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.The disease is believed to afflict only 2,500 people worldwide.
The research was reported in the online edition of the journal Nature Genetics by Kaplan, geneticist Eileen M. Shore, and their Penn colleagues, with contributions from researchers in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and South Korea.
After 15 years of work involving study of the genetic makeup of multigenerational families around the world, scientists at Penn's Center for Research in FOP and Related Disorders found that FOP is caused by a single mutation in a gene called ACVR1. This devastating glitch means that tendons, ligaments and skeletal muscle begin painfully transforming into bone, sometimes locking joints overnight.
The genetic twist that leads to FOP, Kaplan said in a telephone interview, "is relevant to every condition that affects the formation of bone and every condition that affects the formation of the skeleton."
The researchers believe it should be possible to develop a drug that would block or bypass the genetic trigger of the extra bone growth. Eventually, it might block the unneeded bone that occasionally forms after hip-replacement surgery.
"In the next five years, this might open up the possibility of developing drugs that would be effective in stopping bone formation," said Dr. Victor A. McKusick, a genetics pioneer and professor of medical genetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
He said the FOP genetic breakthrough is likely to shed light on other related diseases.
"The first thing that comes to mind is osteoporosis, which is the flip side of the coin when it comes to bone formation," he said. "When one learns about one side - extra bone growth - it helps you understand what goes the other way" - bone breakdown.
Stephanie Snow, a 15-year-old with FOP, hopes the finding will lead to a drug that can stop the stiffening damage to her body, which includes a fused, immobile neck, arms she can't raise and problems with hip mobility. The Santa Maria, Calif. teenager dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
"If they develop a pill we can take every day, I can move and do more things, and it might be easier for me to become a vet, like I've always wanted to," she said.
FOP patient Jeannie Peeper, 47, of Winter Springs, Fla., is totally immobilized but still a leader in the International FOP Association that represents patients and their families.
"The gene discovery is an extraordinary gift to the FOP community and a monumental milestone on our road to a cure," she said.
※spine「背骨」 orthopedist「整形外科医」
afflict「苦しめる」 devastating「破壊的な、びっくりするような」
glitch「突然の故障」 tendon「腱、筋」
ligament「靭帯」 overnight「突然、一夜のうちに」
osteoporosis「骨粗しょう症」 veterinarian「獣医」
いかがでしたか？
私は、最後に出てきた少女の言葉にとても勇気づけられました。例えどんな難病に苦しんでいたとしても、夢をあきらめず、前向きに生きる姿に、自分ももっと頑張らなければ、と心を新たにしました。
あなたは、何を感じましたか？
今回は、医学用語などが出てきますが、文章自体はさほど難しくないと思いますので、興味のあるかたは読んでみて下さい。
テーマは「骨」に関するもので、「FOP」と呼ばれる難病の原因とされる遺伝子を発見したという内容から始まります。
この発見によって、難病の治療法が確立できるだけでなく、骨に関する様々な病気や怪我、例えば「骨粗しょう症」や「骨の再生医療」といった分野にも応用できる可能性がある、という、医学上非常に重要な発見のようです。
以下が記事の全文です。
（記事はYahoo!USAより引用させて頂きました）
Scientists Solve Bone Disease Mystery
NEW YORK - Scientists have discovered a mutant gene that triggers the body to form a second, renegade skeleton, solving the mystery of a rare disease called FOP that imprisons children in bone for life.
The finding, reported Sunday, may one day lead to development of a drug, not only to treat the rare bone disorder, but more common bone buildup related to head and spine trauma, and even sports injuries, the researchers said.
"We've reached the summit," said Dr. Frederick Kaplan, an orthopedist whose team at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine pinpointed the cause of FOP, or fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.The disease is believed to afflict only 2,500 people worldwide.
The research was reported in the online edition of the journal Nature Genetics by Kaplan, geneticist Eileen M. Shore, and their Penn colleagues, with contributions from researchers in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and South Korea.
After 15 years of work involving study of the genetic makeup of multigenerational families around the world, scientists at Penn's Center for Research in FOP and Related Disorders found that FOP is caused by a single mutation in a gene called ACVR1. This devastating glitch means that tendons, ligaments and skeletal muscle begin painfully transforming into bone, sometimes locking joints overnight.
The genetic twist that leads to FOP, Kaplan said in a telephone interview, "is relevant to every condition that affects the formation of bone and every condition that affects the formation of the skeleton."
The researchers believe it should be possible to develop a drug that would block or bypass the genetic trigger of the extra bone growth. Eventually, it might block the unneeded bone that occasionally forms after hip-replacement surgery.
"In the next five years, this might open up the possibility of developing drugs that would be effective in stopping bone formation," said Dr. Victor A. McKusick, a genetics pioneer and professor of medical genetics at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
He said the FOP genetic breakthrough is likely to shed light on other related diseases.
"The first thing that comes to mind is osteoporosis, which is the flip side of the coin when it comes to bone formation," he said. "When one learns about one side - extra bone growth - it helps you understand what goes the other way" - bone breakdown.
Stephanie Snow, a 15-year-old with FOP, hopes the finding will lead to a drug that can stop the stiffening damage to her body, which includes a fused, immobile neck, arms she can't raise and problems with hip mobility. The Santa Maria, Calif. teenager dreams of becoming a veterinarian.
"If they develop a pill we can take every day, I can move and do more things, and it might be easier for me to become a vet, like I've always wanted to," she said.
FOP patient Jeannie Peeper, 47, of Winter Springs, Fla., is totally immobilized but still a leader in the International FOP Association that represents patients and their families.
"The gene discovery is an extraordinary gift to the FOP community and a monumental milestone on our road to a cure," she said.
※spine「背骨」 orthopedist「整形外科医」
afflict「苦しめる」 devastating「破壊的な、びっくりするような」
glitch「突然の故障」 tendon「腱、筋」
ligament「靭帯」 overnight「突然、一夜のうちに」
osteoporosis「骨粗しょう症」 veterinarian「獣医」
いかがでしたか？
私は、最後に出てきた少女の言葉にとても勇気づけられました。例えどんな難病に苦しんでいたとしても、夢をあきらめず、前向きに生きる姿に、自分ももっと頑張らなければ、と心を新たにしました。
あなたは、何を感じましたか？
